The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero

Book Description

Handcuff King. Escape Artist. International Superstar. Since his death eighty years ago, Harry Houdini's life has been chronicled in books, in film, and on television. Now, in this groundbreaking biography, renowned magic expert William Kalush and best-selling writer Larry Sloman team up to find the man behind the myth. Drawing from millions of pages of research, they describe in vivid detail the passions that drove Houdini to perform ever-more-dangerous feats, his secret life as a spy, and a pernicious plot to subvert his legacy.

After years of struggling on the dime museum circuit, Harry Houdini got a break that put him on the front page of a Chicago newspaper. He never looked back. Soon Houdini was performing for royalty, commanding vast sums, and exploring the new power of Hollywood to expand on his legend.

At a time when spy agencies frequently co-opted amateurs, Houdini went to London and developed a relationship with a man who would run MI-5. For the next several years, the world's most famous magician traveled to Germany and Russia and routinely reported his findings.

After World War I was successfully concluded, Houdini embarked on a battle of his own. He created a group of disguised field operatives to infiltrate the seamy world of fake spirit mediums. In doing so, Houdini triggered the wrath of fanatical Spiritualists, led by the esteemed British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Death threats became an everyday occurrence, but the group would pose an even greater danger to Houdini's legacy.

Rigorously researched, and as exciting as a good thriller, The Secret Life of Houdini traces the arc of the master magician's life from desperate poverty to worldwide legend, initiating the reader along the way into the arcane world of professional magic. In this remarkable book, Kalush and Sloman decode a life based on deception, providing an intimate and riveting portrayal of Houdini, the man and the legend.

Customer Reviews:

Really 4.75 Stars - Fabulous Book.......2007-10-04

This book is fantastic on so many levels. One doesn't even have to like magic to appreciate this book, but it sure helps. The authors have done a wonderful job of painting the social scene, class hierarchy and the world at large during this time period. In the true style of a Houdini dichotomy, while there's not much new we learn, we learn so much that's new.

The book heavily follows Houdini's involvement with the spiritualist movement, in particular, a Boston spiritualist named Margery.

I can not recommend this book highly enough.

Harry Houdini : The Man, The Myth, The Spy, The Secret Service Agent.......2007-05-18

Harry Houdini : The Man, The Myth, The Spy, The Secret Service Agent

A lot of people love reading about Harry Houdini the magician, the Handcuff King the escape artist but did you know that he was a spy & a Secret Service agent? I can prove it with one book & a few well versed words here. The book I am talking about is one I am just over half way through & it is entitled "The Secret Life of Houdini : The Making of a Superhero."

This book is awesome & I encourage everyone to read it and enjoy the story of Harry Houdini from beginning to end. It tells about the man, the myth, the spy, the Secret Service agent who was a performer who made the world love him & his shows & continually conquered his every demon, including his own self loathing while continually re-creating himself for the world at large.

Yes this book still fits into this world of the wide web that is the internet. The book is all about how all of Harry Houdini's having been a major instigator in World War I in the propaganda & success of America while Harry Houdini, or some may know him better as Ehrich Weiss, a Jewish man who changed his identity to fit better into the world and to better sell himself to the world as an entertainer at large for War World I in the rise of Germany the first time it came to power.

The fact that the book is from archival data and letters both from & to Harry Houdini is what makes this book so intriguing. Please feel free to enjoy the book & I would love to hear anyone else's opinion & thoughts on this subject. A lot of people do not know that the Secret Service was a spy agency at one time and was connected to the spy world like the C.I.A., N.S.A., D.I.A. & the rest of the alphabet Intelligent Agencies.

Harry Houdini taught our American Dough Boys how to escape from handcuffs, being tied in ropes, & how to escape from torpedoed ships by being on stage in an ampitheater & having actually being a teacher of the American military.

spooky.......2007-04-26

Good book but Harry was given something to drink by a woman that slowly killed him.

Comprehensive and Fascinating.......2007-04-18

What a fascinating and readable story. The addition of conjectured dialogue, authentic letters, and numerous thoughtfully placed photographs gives this mammoth biography the feel of both a novel and an A&E special.

It is near impossible to condense this book into a review, but I will say what beguiled me the most was the concept of how the extent and grandeur of Houdini's worldwide fame--in his own lifetime--was conceived and flawlessly executed by his own will and brilliance in an age of no television and no Internet.

The thoroughness of the book is what makes it impressive. It's also what makes it hard to finish. For the length of the book, I can't see how the authors could have made it more exciting, but I can't help thinking that some of the details could have been cut out for the sanity of the reader. I would liken it to the most interesting textbook I've ever read.

Serious and complete.......2007-04-15

This is a very serious and complete biography. I bought this expecting something more for the masses, lots of rumor and sensationalism. In fact, it's a very thoughtful book, with lots of detail and very little speculation, presenting many of the lesser known aspects of Houdini's life, including his campaign against spiritualism and fraudulent mediums, and his extraordinary physical prowess. Not everything was a trick. Many things he accomplished by sheer force of will. Houdini was clearly much more multidimensional than portrayed in movies and popular references. The book also includes many details on the culture and other celebrities of the time; the extensive information on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was especially interesting. I give it 4 stars only for the fact that there are no footnotes or references. I understand that the authors chose to put those on their Web site, but they're much less useful separated from the book they document.

Night of the New Magicians (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

Average customer rating:

From a grandson's perspective
Night of the New Magicians
A Great Work
A belle époque perspective on the magic of science
Another great one from M. Pope Osborne

Night of the New Magicians (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375830359
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Book Description

Merlin sends Jack and Annie on a mysterious mission to Paris, France, over a 100 years ago. There they must find four magicians and give them an urgent message from Merlin himself. When Jack and Annie land in Paris, they make their way to the 1889 World’s Fair. Below the Eiffel Tower, built especially for the fair, there are thousands of exhibits from all over the world. But how will Jack and Annie find the magicians in the crowds of people? And who are the magicians anyway? Jack and Annie are about to find out in another adventure filled with history, magic, and amazing surprises!

Customer Reviews:

From a grandson's perspective.......2007-09-16

My grandson has done nothing but rave about how GOOD this book is. Perhaps part of it is because he loves magic as well as reading.

Night of the New Magicians.......2007-06-03

I would recommend this book to kids who like books that have magic, adventure, and information about other cultures. That is why I would recommend this book.

A Great Work.......2007-06-03

Magic Tree House #35: Night of the New Magicians, is another wonderful installment in Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series. In this book, Jack and Annie go to Paris, France for the World's Fair of 1889. There they have to find "four new magicians" and warn them about an evil sorcerer who is planning to steal the secrets of their magic.

I am just a kid, but i highly suggest that any fans of Mary Pope Osborne should read this book AND the entire Magic Tree House series.

A belle époque perspective on the magic of science.......2007-05-18

One of the best Magic Tree House books I've read with the kids. As usual, Osborne brings history to life. In this case, she turns science and technology into mystery and suspense, with the Eiffel Tower as a beautiful gathering place for brilliant minds and tales of inspiration. The World Fair attendees are awed by inventions that seem commonplace and even old-fashioned to us. This book taught my kids to take nothing for granted... and it gave them the desire to climb the Eiffel Tower - a pretty nice ambition for land-locked Mid-westerners!

Another great one from M. Pope Osborne.......2007-05-14

I purchased this book for my son as an Easter present. He read the whole thing that day and said it was just as good as the rest of the series. We struggled with him to try and spark an interest in reading, and these books were the only thing that worked. Even now, when he reads much more advanced books, he still comes back to these adventures.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Great book!
Warning to Parents - 'R' Rated Language in this Book
CRISS ANGEL VERY GOOD BOOK
Criss Angel: Mindfreak - Secret Revelations
Mindfreak: Secret Revelations - Inspriational

Mindfreak: Secret Revelations
Criss Angel
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061137618

Book Description

The hottest magician in years takes us behind–the–scenes of his hit A&E show and offers secret tips to 25 illusions you won't see anywhere else.

Criss Angel is poised to take the magic world by storm. He had his first 1–hour special on ABC in '01, headlined Madison Square Garden's annual Halloween special a year later to an audience of 60,000, performed in front of 75,000 people in Times Square, had two subsequent 1–hour specials on the Sci–Fi channel, he's received countless magician awards, and he currently has a groundbreaking show on A&E called CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK, the first weekly magic show in over 40 years, that consistently wins its timeslot. MINDFREAK – the book – will be an extention of the show, which uses a specific topic each week – like 'Buried Alive', 'Bullet Catch', 'Building Walk', or 'Levitation' – to delve into the history of each subject, and see if Criss can't break new ground by doing something no one has done before. We are also going to try and include secrets in the book – clues to be dissected by readers – that relate back to magic he will perform on the show, where the book will be heavily promoted.

Customer Reviews:

Great book!.......2007-09-28

Highly reccomend this to anyone who is a fan of Criss Angel or just interested in magic. It is very well written and includes pictures and some pretty cool magic tricks. I'm a fan of Criss Angel and learned interesting things I didn't know, love this book!

Warning to Parents - 'R' Rated Language in this Book.......2007-08-31

I just received the book so I haven't read it yet and can't rate it. However, while skimming through I came across several instances of language that may be objectionable to some. I purchased this book for my 12 year old son, because from everything I heard and read about it, it sounds like a very inspirational story from a man whom my son deeply admires. Unfortunately he won't be reading the book because of the profanity. Now I'm no prude, I've been known to use some colorful language myself, just not in front of children. I think it's a shame that a book that carries such great messages for kids has to be spattered with words that most parents would deem inappropriate for younger children. I'm looking forward to reading the book myself and may read it aloud to my son, omitting certain words as I go. Just wanted other parents to be aware if this is a concern for them.

CRISS ANGEL VERY GOOD BOOK.......2007-08-26

Good insight into the man behind the mindfreak !!!!
40 mindfreaks you get to try yourself are a good addition.....
steevo

Criss Angel: Mindfreak - Secret Revelations.......2007-08-23

Criss Angel has written a brilliant autobiography that sounds like his own voice talking to you, as if he was sitting right next to you. I could not stop reading the book. I could hear his voice after I put the book down. I could hear his voice after I finished the book. He is truly the embodiment of success using mind, body, and spirit. His imprint on the world of magic and entertainment will be idelible.

Mindfreak: Secret Revelations - Inspriational.......2007-08-23

From the moment I received this book I couldn't put it down. Criss takes you on a journey and shares his story from childhood to the present. He leads you through his life-path and reveals what it took to get where he is and what he continutes to do to be the best at what he does today. It's written as if he is sitting in front of you telling you his story. His strong connection to his family, their support and his drive to achieve his dreams made this a very enjoyable and inspirational read. It made me take note of my own goals and dreams. It motivated me to put the wheels in motion to make things happen in my own life. I've always believed that "it is all possible" and this book and its message reminded me to get off auto-pilot and make it happen.

Average customer rating:

Dreadful
Really good book
The New Dragon Riders
Aerie
Ending the series with a whimper

Aerie (The Dragon Jousters, Book 4)
Mercedes Lackey
Manufacturer: DAW Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 075640391X

Book Description

Kiron has secretly gathered an army of dragon riders to seek refuge in the abandoned desert city they have named Sanctuary, where they join with other dragon riders to rid their world of both war and magical domination. But now it is time to build a new society in Aerie: an ancient city that seems to have been designed for dragon riders and their dragons.

Customer Reviews:

Dreadful.......2007-10-02

I absolutely adored the first two books in this series. The characters were awesome; believable, funny and easy to relate to. The third book was pretty good, but begged for a proper ending. Sadly it never got one. The characters I loved in the first three books apparently got personality transplants. The couple that had been soooooo incredibly in love with each other inexplicably started hating each other (ok, not actual hate, but close enough). The only character in this book I found believable at all was "the other woman", in fact most of the book I was rooting for her to get the guy. But alas, I was disappointed even at that.

By itself not a bad book. As an ending to this brilliant series, and by this wonderful author (whose other books I have enjoyed a great deal) it was positively dreadful.

Really good book.......2007-05-13

This book is funny and exciting and interesting. You don't really have to read the first three books to understand it, but it's better if you do. It's about someone who was a serf and became a dragon-rider who Jousted, and then saved a country from magicians. Then they found a new place to live, where they help protect the desert from evil people.

This is a good book. I really liked the dragons.

The New Dragon Riders.......2007-03-08

Aerie (2006) is the fourth Fantasy novel in the Dragon Jousters series, following Sanctuary. In the previous volume, Kiron rescued Aket-ten from the Magi and inadvertently initiated feedback within the Eye, which then ran wild. Deadly heat beams and the resulting earthshakes destroyed the central island of Alta and the damage spread outward. As the Tian army was invading across the Great Causeway, the final earthshake totally demolished the bridge. Amidst all the destruction, the Great Kings of both Alta and Tia were killed and so were most of the Magi.

In this novel, Great King Ari and Great Queen Nofret rule the united Kingdoms of Alta and Tia from Mefis. Sanctuary is mostly occupied by priests. Aerie, however, has been claimed by many tradesmen and the dragon riders.

Carved into the stone walls of desert canyons, Aerie seems to be made for dragon riders. The bottom floor of each dwelling is a tall room without windows and partially underground; filled with sand, it makes a perfect dragon wallow. The second and, in some cases, third floors have thick walls and small windows to protect against the sun and sand storms.

The dragon riders need the extra room, for dragon taming has become a highly prized vocation. Kiron is now the Lord of Jousters, with eight wings under his command; some riders are former Tian jousters, but many have come from the common classes. Aket-ten has even organized a Queen's Wing with eight other females. Although the rank and admiration are welcome, the dragon riders do need to find a new use for their skills.

The military in both Alta and Tia has been greatly disrupted by the machinations of the Magi and the subsequent destruction of the higher ranks. The caravan routes are no longer being patrolled by the armies and some soldiers have even become bandits. Obviously the dragon riders have a role to play in suppressing these thieves and murderers.

Kiron starts having the dragons and riders train in patrolling and anti-ambush tactics. Even before they have completed the first day of training, the dragon riders have a live fire exercise against a group of bandits. He even finds a way to dispose of the captives. The caravan masters are very pleased with the new protection and make known their approval at court.

Aket-ten finds her plans for the Queen's Wing to have Nofret's permission and approval, but the women are not volunteering for the positions. Her first recruit, Peri-en-westet, was eager to accept the job, but others are reluctant to undertake a vocation so associated with males and violence. Finally, Aket-ten draws on her on experiences and recruits seven other females from among the minor priestesses.

Peri meets Kiron at dinner in the Jousters Court of Sanctuary. She is struck by the similarities between him and the stories told to her by Letis, her old mistress. As Peri learns more, she becomes convinced that Kiron is Letis's long lost son.

In this story, Kiron finds the body of a lone border guard in the desert. After the body is taken to Sanctuary, the priests discover his duty station, but cannot find anything significant about his death and nothing at all unusual about the border fortress or town. Kiron has to go out with other dragon riders and a priest to take a closer look.

A new menace seems to be developing in the East. Far in the past, the Nameless Ones had come out of the East and are still feared both by the ignorant and the informed. What could be coming toward them?

Highly recommended for Lackey fans and for anyone who enjoys tales of tame dragons, aerial tactics, political intrigues and a touch of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Aerie.......2007-02-17

This book sucks big time. I really like the writing of Mercedes Lackey. I do not believe she wrote this book. I feel cheated out of purchase price. It wasn't worth anything.

Ending the series with a whimper.......2007-02-04

It took several pages before I could get interested in this book, but once I did I was pleasantly surprised ... for about half the book. The characters of Kiron and Aket-ten were showing greater complexity than they had in the past books, and I enjoyed the misunderstandings in their relationship, as well as the developing mystery that drove the plot. Then - POOF! - the real, understandable reasons for their disagreements were swept aside, the mystery was cleared up, and deus ex machina descended to solve all the problems for the Tians and Altans. It was such a disappointing ending to the series. I've been loyally reading all of Mercedes Lackey's books for the past twelve years, and I can't help feeling a little betrayed by the decline in quality.

Average customer rating:

This book is best of the Magician Trilogy!
The Magician Trilogy
Too much Welsh
Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger
Delightful Read!

Chestnut Soldier (The Magician Trilogy)
Jenny Nimmo
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439846773

Book Description

Gwyn can feel danger coming in the wind. Somehow he knows the warnings have to do with the broken toy horse that holds the evil spirit of a prince who lived long ago. When Gwyn discovers that the prince's dark soul has escaped from the horse and is seeking revenge Gwyn, Emlyn, and Nia have to figure out how to save the mysterious soldier who claims to be Nia's distant cousin. With the help of the Snow Spider, can they recapture the prince's soul without hurting the Chestnut soldier?

Nimmo's fast-paced page turner fantasies appeal to boys and girls with its magical adventures.

Customer Reviews:

This book is best of the Magician Trilogy!.......2007-08-24

I rated this book a 4 because sometimes it exciting but i didn't get a big thrill like "oh my gosh that was so awesome!" I just kept reading and and usually the ending in the rest of the Magician Trilogy books, it just ends with a BAM!If you haven't read the rest of the Magician Trilogy read it!The Magician Trilogy are just like Jenny Nimmo's other series of books Charlie Bone!There big just a bit, but very exciting!If you would compare these books to Harry Potter books Harry Potter books would be better (no offense to Jenny Nimmo!).

The Magician Trilogy.......2007-07-13

This review is for all three books in Jenny Nimmo's Magician Trilogy (The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon, and The Chestnut Soldier).

Jenny Nimmo's writing style is very powerful, and her characters come to life as you read these books. The descriptions of locations (people's houses, the Welsh countryside, the town, the school) are so vivid that you can immediately picture yourself there. These books have a few scary parts, but the endings are very positive and satisfying.

These books are recommended for anyone who enjoys fantasy or Welsh mythology. Similar books include Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence and Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles.

Too much Welsh.......2007-06-15

I'm an adult, and I found this book difficult to understand. There was too much Welsh, the names are difficult to pronounce and the tales are too convoluted to follow. Stick with Charlie Bones.

Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger.......2007-06-10

Book three in the Magician Trilogy continues the saga of magician Gwyn, who faces further challenges to his magical powers when a wicked spirit escapes from a broken toy horse and unleashes havoc on his world. Gwyn's own family is affected and the entire town is in danger: can he summon the forces to fight a final battle? This concludes a trilogy begun in THE SNOW SPIDER; prior familiarity with the other hard-hitting fantasy stories will enhance appreciation of this concluding adventure for advanced elementary to early middle school grades.

Delightful Read! .......2007-06-10

A Satisfying conclusion to a delightful series! This is the final book in the Magician Trilogy (The Snow Spider, Emlyn's Moon, & The Chestnut Soldier). When we first met Gwyn he'd just turned 9 and as this book concludes, he is turning 14...the books (themes and story lines) have evolved and matured just as the characters and as such, we find that The Chestnut Soldier has more mature subject matter than the previous two, however all three deal with subtle magic, human frailty, and no small amount of tragedy all thoroughly filtered through the lens of Welsh mythology/folklore. As with the previous books, the usual gang is all present, though Nia and Gwyn are most prominent here. As with the second book, the story is about Gwyn and his gift, but he really plays an almost peripheral role and here Nia and her mysterious soldier cousin Evan take center stage for most of the story.

In this final book, the final of the "five gifts" (the mutilated chestnut horse) his grandmother gave him at age 9 (the first book) finally comes into play. Here we find a soldier wounded badly coming "home" to the only family he has left in the area (the rest of his family having moved to Australia years before). At first things seem relatively normal with him, but as time goes on he becomes more and more angry, like anger is consuming him and his once supportive and worried cousins become frightened of him. Gwyn wants to help, but he's got issues he's dealing with too...he hasn't grown in nearly two years and is felling left behind in many ways. What once seemed a boon now feels like a curse to him. He wishes that he could be normal, that he hadn't inherited his ancestral "gift." Will Gwyn come to terms with all of this and be able to help Nia and Evan before the evil that escapes from the mangled chestnut horse takes over his troubled soul? With Gwyn struggling to find his right place and truly come to terms with who he is and Nia desperately trying to assert her identity and worth in the family when they are thrown into chaos as Evan becomes increasingly disturbed by the "injury" that befell him. Readers will feel the turmoil, angst, and edgy excitement as the story progresses and will certainly enjoy seeing how it all comes together in the end.

Overall I give The Chestnut Soldier four stars. It's got strong magical themes, Welsh mythology/folklore, an evil force trying to break into "our" world, an unwilling hero, a damsel in distress who manages to be a hero in her own way and as is the case with all three books, family is all important here. They are not shown as perfect things...each family here is full of flawed people all trying to work out who they are and striving to enjoy life for themselves and as a part of the larger family unit. What shines most of all here is that no matter how flawed they are, family is where the heart is and they are always there for one another in the end. I also like that the magic here isn't typical of the genre, it's not flashy or "in your face." In the Magician's Trilogy is it's more unknowable and mysterious, allowing the real focus to remain on the individual struggles, quests to find oneself, and most especially on familial relationships. Since it is common in this type of book for the family to be absent or so un-nurturing and unsupportive (as to be abusive in many cases), which serves to allow the child to enter in to the self-explorative adventure, I really enjoy the refreshing presence of a loving and supportive family by all the characters in the story...sure they've got issues, but at the heart of it all, the family IS an integral part of the storyline. We're sad to see the story come to a close...but it's a satisfying end!

Self-Initiation Into The Golden Dawn Tradition: A Complete Cirriculum of Study for Both the Solitary Magician and the Working Magical Group (Llewell)

Average customer rating:

Great Book....but what happened to it?
Awesome Course
What is initiation into the Golden Dawn
Excellent resource!
Very complete... but very complex

Self-Initiation Into The Golden Dawn Tradition: A Complete Cirriculum of Study for Both the Solitary Magician and the Working Magical Group (Llewell)
Chic & Tabatha Cicero
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1567181368

Customer Reviews:

Great Book....but what happened to it?.......2007-08-05

I saw this book when it first came out in 1995 and was thrilled with it. At the time however, I was attempting to go down the road of Wicca. So, I did not pick it up. Eventually, I realized that the path I was better suited for was that of the Golden Dawn and I wanted to buy this book to supplement my studies. One of the things I remembered vividly were the color plates near the middle of the book. I loved them because they were so much brighter and evoked much more emotion to me than the plates in Regardie's Golden Dawn book. So, I ordered the book but it was the 2002 edition and suddenly the color plates were in gray scale?!?! I found the 1998 edition and they too were in gray scale. The current edition 2006/07 does not even include the plates at all, even though the book refers you to them at various points.

To get full use of the book the color plates as they originally were in the 1995 edition I feel are needed. Thankfully you can see these pictures scaled down on the author's website, but they do not hold the same magic to me on a computer screen.

Overall the material is a great reference and I recommend it to anyone. I just don't like the changes that the company has implemented.

Awesome Course.......2007-07-10

Those who wish not to expend serious time and effort into their conscious spiritual awakening need not waste their money on this book. This book is for the serious seekers with an interest in ritual and who feel that "pull" into the GD current. The important factors in a valid initiation are intent and the activation of relevant symbolism within the initiate's sphere. This book supplies the knowledge to utilize the latter - the former is entirely up to the student.
This book contains such a wealth of information on many aspects of the Western Esoteric Tradition. My gripes however are two in number: 1. Towards the back of the book spelling and grammatical errors become increasingly common-not a huge deal (as none of them occur during the rituals) but it's just something that a literally-anal person like myself catches notice of; and 2. Lack of completeness in regards to having everything basic that the student needs (i.e. ritual implements)-they should really have devoted a section in each grade to construction of implements. I understand that they want the seeker to get in the habit of consulting other sources, which is good, but completeness in the basics should be mandatory.
All in all an awesome and wonderful opus by 2 superb writers -- maybe I should take back my first sentence of this review, for even those who are not willing to seriously work themselves into the GD current can benefit greatly from reading the Knowledge Lectures and contemplating the words and readings from the grade initiations. 5 stars was an easy decision for me on this one.

What is initiation into the Golden Dawn.......2007-06-21

This is largely a response to another reviewer who claims it is impossible to "self-initiate" into the GD. That is true, but not for the reasons given. See, the Golden Dawn no longer exists. It fractured into the Stella Matutina and the Alpha et Omega in the early 20th C.; neither of these factions survived very long, except for one Stella Matutina temple in New Zealand which survived until the 1970s. No temple since then has had chartered lineage. There are people around who can claim initiatory succession from original GD magicians, such as the Ciceros who received their initiations through Dr. Israel Regardie. But Regardie maintained that despite the order being dead, it was quite possible to study the system and initiate oneself. Seeking initiation from someone of a higher grade than you is great, but ultimately they are not the One True Initiator, just a handy tool in the process. It's between you and the powers that be.
I should note there is one group who claim to still be operating under an original charter; they claim to have revived a temple after it had been essentially dead for upwards of 50 years. Which seems a bit iffy to me.
So don't be put off by not being "legitimate". No-one is. Just do it. Yes, find someone wise and competent to take you through if you can; that's invaluable, and will save you huge amounts of work. But you can still use this book and work through the grades regardless.

Excellent resource!.......2007-04-07

I originally bought this book back when it was released in 1995. While I thought it was an excellent companion to Doc Regardie's Golden Dawn, it appeared to be a very daunting task. Eventually my original copy would disappear... somewhere.

A few years later a friend who was moving away gave me his copy of the book. He was heavily involved in Wicca and I was, at the time, an initiate of the Society Ordo Templi Orientis and deeply, deeply involved in my A.'.A.'. work. While I appreciated the gift and would occasionally reference it, I pretty much left it sitting on my shelf. In the interveing years I have slowly shifted away from Thelema, not totally, but in many ways I find I no longer feel the strong identification with the Current I once felt. Rather, and from my discussions with other magicians, it seems I have gotten beyond the point where Crowley and Thelema are necessary to my spiritual development while recognizing them as practical tools that helped me to get where I am and define my sense of identity. Thelema helped me to release the Ego in the sense of what I call the "I am the Beast" syndrome. Robert Anton Wilson writes about what I mean extensively in his "Cosmic Trigger". Think of it as a "Psychology of Liberation".

Like many of the reviews here though, I thought Self-INitiation was overly complex, contained too much information and impractical. I am now sitting down with it and rethinking the entire approach.

Anybody who says this book is too complex is simply trying to rush through the material or hasn't confronted their own inner laziness. It is necessary to begin with the introduction which explains the theory behind the book and gives practical instructions on beginning the work of Self-Initiation and explains the various godforms that are assumed in the rituals.

The Knowledge lectures, outside of the addition of more complete material on Astrology, are expanded versions of the same knowledge lectures presented in the Regardie books. While Regardie's work just listed symbols etc. the Ciceros have explained the symbols and expanded on them in interesting, if not always necessarily useful, ways. The expansion of the Astrology material alone is excellent. The key here is to take time with the material and to absorb it, not simply memorize the material. If you were going through a traditional Golden Dawn group these are the very same things you would be learning and using in your advancement through the grades and it seems, reading reviews and based on my own experiences, that many people just want the quick fix via a book rather than taking the time to absorb the material. The Ciceros suggest a 6 months period between the taking of each of the grades but this is based on the Self-Initiation rituals presented in the book. I think the material contained in the expanded knowledge lectures could be absorbed in a month or two quite easily, but take about 3-4 months just to be thorough.

The presentation is excellent and I wish this was how Regardie's book were laid out with each knowledge lecture preceded by the grade ritual corresponding. Also there is expanded ritual work when compared to the traditional Golden Dawn material that I think overall adds to the system in very positive ways. Also included are wonderful and updated reading lists reflecting modern developments in psychology, philosophy, science and occultism.

If anything in this book can be considered a flaw it is the Self-Initiation rituals themselves. They are almost exactly the original rituals with some modifications for self initiation but they require so much material to be constructed that they are not financially sound and the space required isn't always practical. I think that they should have stripped the rituals totally or used the Z documents to construct new self-initiation ceremonies that aren't nearly so verbose and complicated. While I don't think initiation should be a simple or easy affair, it is evident that simpler versions that are as effective as the original GD rituals are possible and do exist such as Crowley's Liber Pyramidos as published in the Equinox vol. IV no. 1. The elemental rituals also could have been reworked easily. The Watchtower ceremony could be used as the basis for this process with the elemental symbols of each grade worked into the candidates aura in the course of that ritual coupled with the Middle Pillar ritual to balance that energy.

As far as I care though, the rituals are unnecessary for advancement if the aspiration is pure. There is nothing like just doing the work to begin the process of initiation. The time period the Ciceros provide, 3 months for the beginning work, 9 months for the Neophyte and then 6 months for each of the elemental and portal grades is far longer than necessary for proper self initiation. Regardie in his Complete GOlden Dawn System of Magic writes that he thinks the performance of the Watchtower Ceremony and Middle Pillar ritual can self initiate a person and surmises that someone he knows that has performed this combination about 50 or 60 times has the credentials of a full initiate. This tells me that much could have been done with the Self Initiation rituals themselves. This system of self initiation is best done in a group.

But as I said, outside of the rituals themselves, the knowledge lectures are the best published, practical and thorough. You can not allow yourself to be overwhelmed by the amount of material contained in the book, just take it one step at a time.

A final note on the question of self-initiation. There have been long standing debates on whether self initiation is possible and I have to ask... how did the first Master become a Master is there was no one to initiate him? The debate has really raged about the 5=6 ritual. I don't think it is self-initiation that is at question but the experience of the ritual that can not be conferred. Self-initiation is not based on system, it isn't based on orders, it is based on personal aspiration in the face of the darkness.

Very complete... but very complex.......2006-08-20

A excellent and serious book about self initiation in the Golden Dawn magic system. But it's very complex too. This big book will teach you a lot of details about magical things and cosmogony, through a one or two year's "evening class".
But it doesn't explain you the spirit of this magic and the GD philosophy.
It's not a easy understanding book, and definitly not a fast magick grimoire :)

Average customer rating:

Magic and intrigue in the British countryside
The Magician Trap
better than book 2 but still searching for the magic
About on parr with the second book
Mediocre Sequel

The Mislaid Magician or Ten Years After
Patricia C. Wrede , and Caroline Stevermer
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0152055487

Book Description

Ten years have passed since Kate and Cecy married Thomas and James, and England is now being transformed by the first railways. When the Duke of Wellington asks James to look into the sudden disappearance of a German railway engineer, James and Cecy's search reveals a shocking truth: The railway lines are wreaking havoc with ancient underground magic, which could endanger the very unity of England. Meanwhile, Kate has her hands full taking care of all their children, not to mention the mysterious mute girl they rescued from a kidnapper!

Written in letters between Kate and Cecy--and between their husbands--this installment of the cousins' adventures is another satisfying blend of magic, mystery, adventure, humor, and romance.

Customer Reviews:

Magic and intrigue in the British countryside.......2007-09-14

It's 1828, 10 years since the eventful honeymoon trip chronicled in The Grand Tour, and James and Cecy Tarleton and Thomas and Kate Schofield have settled down to a quiet and contented life in the country. The Tarletons have four children--twins Arthur and Eleanor, nine; Diana, four; and Alexander, an infant. The Schofields have two sons, Edward, six, and baby Laurence. Then the gentlemen's old commanding officer, the Duke of Wellington, recently created Prime Minister, gets in touch. A German magician/engineer, Herr Schellen, has mysteriously disappeared, and the Duke wants James to find him. Since James has no magical skills at all, Cecy must accompany him, which means that the four young Tarletons have to be parked with their "Aunt" Kate--whose sister, the beautiful and fashionable Georgina (now married to Daniel, the Duke of Waltham), has arrived without warning at the very start of the London Season. Then it turns out that several of the children have inherited the parental gift and are experimenting with magic themselves. While Kate tries to cope with this juvenile precocity and with her sister's moods--plus a mysterious prowler who seems immune to her attempts to bespell him--the Tarletons become entangled with a sinister brother and sister, the fittingly named Webbs, whose ancestral home is a nexus of the mysterious ley lines Herr Schellen was supposed to be investigating in connection with the new railroads now being lain across England. When Edward Schofield is inadvertantly kidnapped by what appears to be a female tinker (she isn't), Kate also finds herself responsible for a little girl who not only has a regal bearing suitable to a queen but refuses to talk to any adult. (If you've read any amount of English history you'll guess well ahead of time who Drina really is.) Comic transformations and a vividly described magical duel are among the high points of the tale, which, like its predecessors, is skilfully paced and wonderfully complex, yet in the end is neatly resolved, and also increases our understanding of the magic of this just-slightly-alternate world. With a copyright date of 2006 and the promise that the children will be put in charge of competent magical tutors, we may well look for yet another volume in the adventures of Kate, Cecy, and their families.

The Magician Trap.......2007-03-23

The Mislaid Magician (2006) is the third Fantasy novel of the Cecy and Kate series, following The Grand Tour. In the ten years since the last magical adventure, Cecelia has birthed the nine year old twins, Arthur and Eleanor, four year old Diana and the baby Alexander. Katherine now has six year old Edward and baby Laurence. In 1828, their life seems to revolve around the nursery.

In this novel, James is called to London to meet with the new prime minister, the Duke of Wellington. While he is gone, Arthur detects a prowler on the grounds of Tangleford Hall and Cecy casts a Greater Cessation spell on him. She expects the intruder to be immobilized, but instead he creeps away, gaining more speed with greater distance.

James receives orders to investigate the disappearance of a Prussian railway surveyor-magician. He and Cecy will be leaving soon for Leeds to discover the whereabouts of Herr Magus Franz Wilhelm Schellen. Apparently the duke has not considered the uproar that would ensue with both parents leaving their children behind.

Naturally, Kate agrees to take the children into the Schofield household. She sends Thomas to meet with the Tarletons in London and take the children in hand for the trip back to Skeynes. While at the Bull and Mouth, Arthur sees the prowler in the stables and gives chase, only to lose contact due to an altercation with a stable boy.

After much too long a ride, Thomas finally arrives back home and lets lose the Tarleton children among his own. Since they are returning to a familiar estate, the children soon reestablish old connections. This time Arthur gets Thomas to teach him how to scry with a bowl of ink and the children start using this skill to play a new form of hide and seek.

In Leeds, James soon discovers traces of the surveyor-magician. He also runs into Daniel, the Duke of Waltham and errant husband of Georgy. The duke is staying with Ramsey and Adella Webb, who invite the Tarletons to the house party at Haliwar Tower.

Meanwhile, the Duchess of Waltham has appeared at Skeynes in a very despondent state, shedding tears on the carpets and furniture. Despite Kate's best efforts, Georgy refuses to discuss her problems. Only the children provide some relief from her vaporish mood; indeed, she is quite cheerful with the babies.

Arthur and Eleanor begin detailed mapping the grounds of Skeynes. Edward develops an interest in the household wards. Then another child joins the nursery and Diana becomes her devoted follower.

Like its predecessors, this story is a mystery with magical overtones. Naturally, Thomas is the best trained magician in the group, but Cecy is quite proficient. Kate knows fewer spells -- actually only three -- but she is very competent with those; in fact, she demonstrates great strength with those spells when her children are threatened. Then there are the twins, who develop surprising competency with scrying spells.

Highly recommended for Wrede & Stevermer fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of domestic crises, magical and mundane investigations, and political conspiracies in a historical milieu.

-Arthur W. Jordin

better than book 2 but still searching for the magic.......2007-01-20

I will assume the reader has read Sorcery And Cecelia. If not, go out and do so right away.

The second book was a letdown in many ways, but this third book does better at capturing the spark that made the first one so fun. Part of this is that, as in the first one, the main characters are separated the entire time. All we see are letters they write to each other.

The problem is that the plot is weak. Very weak. The bad guys are silly and not directly threatening, their motivations are boring, and we never get the sense of mysterious evil that we have in the first book.

Also, the railroad thing was probably something that sounded like a good idea but, in the end, didn't really work. There's no real resolution of it, nor is it really important.

In fact, resolution is a problem all around, because everything gets resolved much to quickly and with not nearly enough direct input from the main characters.

All that being said, the characters feel real and likeable again. This would have been a great second book -- another look at some wonderful characters even though the plot doesn't really hold water. As a third book it's a little more disappointing, because I expect more plot from a third book.

My guess is that if there is a fourth book, it will be about the kids. At least, that's what it should be about!

About on parr with the second book.......2007-01-14

It might be that I read the second two books in this series more sporadicly than the first and so I didn't fully grasp the plot, on the other hand I didn't read them as quickly because the plot did not fully grab me. If I could I would probably give it a 3.5 because I didn't find it all that memorable. the first book really made an impression which seems to have been fading ever so slightly with each consequential book.

Shifting from how the second book was written this is again in pure letter form, with additional missives from James and Thomas (I agree that they might be a bit excessive and that like in the second where we had more than one person narrating the same set of events it got slightly tedious at times).

Again like the second one Ithought it focused too much WAY WAY toomuch on the mechanics of the magic. Not only were James and Cecy bored to tears with ley lines and locomotives, so was I. Those poor characters their plot only got really interesting towards the very end when every one kept turning into dogs.

This might be the difference in the strengths of the authors, but I found the Kate and Thomas storyline much more interesting, it was rolicking and moving and less stagnent and technical than Cecy and James. (Ironic since Kate and Thomas stay at home while Cecy and James travel the country side)

They have been saddled with the care and keeping of all of Cecy and James' children--alot. In addition they find another child, the almost mute Drina. Thomas is still wonderfully Thomas and writes some of the funniest letters towards the end in regards to a certain dog. Georgy has a plot as well, which I found very amusing (she has a penchant for sappy poetry, how apropos)

Still a fun read but I wouldn't put off reading it too long after the first and second because things might get forgotten in the interim.

Mediocre Sequel.......2007-01-11

After the first two collaborations by these authors, I was looking forward to yet another adventure. While this book was all right, it missed out on being great. The plot was a little thin, and the characters tame in comparison to past attempts. In sum, worth a read but maybe not a purchase.

Emlyn's Moon (Nimmo, Jenny. Magician Trilogy)

Average customer rating:

The Magician Trilogy
Good Books
cool fantasy book
It's in the moon, and stars!
Loved it

Emlyn's Moon (Nimmo, Jenny. Magician Trilogy)
Jenny Nimmo
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439846765

Book Description

Young magician Gywn and his friend Nia have been warned to stay away from Emlyn Llewelyn, the strange boy who claims his mother lives on the moon. And yet, a mysterious magic continues to draw them to him. But why?

It's up to Gwyn and Nia to solve the mystery, with the help of Arianwen, the Snow Spider. Readers will race along with Gwyn in this fantastic magical adventure to rescue Emlyn and his family before it's too late!

Customer Reviews:

The Magician Trilogy.......2007-07-13

Good Books.......2007-05-12

My grand daughter just loves this book and all of the trilogy. She is only 7, but can't wait to read more.

cool fantasy book.......2007-04-13

I think this book is a good book for fantasy lovers of all ages. This is the second book in the "magician trilogy" series so if you like it you should read the first or third book. This story is based in the welsh mountains in the present day. Gwen Griffiths lives a good life in the highest house on the top of the mountains in Ty-Bryn. But his cousin Emlyn is having problems. Emlyn's mom suddenly left without cause and he wants to learn why. But there are dark secrets in their past and when Gwen with the help of a family friend tries to help them, it will change their lives forever.

It's in the moon, and stars!.......2007-04-01

This is the 2nd book in a trilogy. Jenny Nimmo is a great writer. This book follows very nicely with the first, but the first isn't necessary to get what is going on. My 10 year old enjoys them too. Jenny Nimmo writes to kids and makes the reading easy and fun.

Loved it.......2007-03-10

If you like Charlie Bone and Harry Potter this is another you should read. Great for Kids.

Average customer rating:

This book had me psyched from the beginning.
The Magician Trilogy
Good homework reading
Book Review for Snow Spider
book review for snow spider

The Snow Spider (Magician Trilogy)
Jenny Nimmo
Manufacturer: Orchard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0439846757

Book Description

On Gwyn's 9th birthday, his grandmother tells him he may be a magician, like his Welsh ancestors. She gives him five gifts to help him--a brooch, a piece of dried seaweed, a tin whistle, a scarf, and a broken toy horse. One blustery day, unsure what to do with his newfound magic, Gwyn throws the brooch to the wind and receives a silvery snow spider in return. Will he be able to use this special spider to bring his missing sister, Bethan, home? THE SNOW SPIDER spins an icy, sparkly web of mystical intrigue that sets the stage for the next two books in this outstanding trilogy!

Customer Reviews:

This book had me psyched from the beginning........2007-07-26

When I was finished with the book I was already wishing to read the sequel of this book "Emilyn's Moon". When I read this I pictured myself on the Mountains and looking at the Island of Wales. I was all over this book 24/7. Rating this book I give a 5 out of 5. I sugest those who want a good but not long book read this! - Reader Nick age 10 permissioned by mom

The Magician Trilogy.......2007-07-13